Our resident country vet, Dr. Robert Sharp, answers the most pressing questions about your birds. Plus, get more pet advice!Have a question for Dr. Sharp? Drop him a line at countryliving@hearst.com.

Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Your Birds

Everything You’ve Wanted to Know About Your Birds

Q: Our 8-year-old parakeet knows two words: hiya and thanks. How can we expand her vocabulary?

A: A while back, a burglar shattered the window of a veterinary practice near my own but never went inside. We gave credit to Alex, an African gray parrot: Raised in the vet's office, Alex could mimic a dog's growl and bark, and the noise was no doubt scary enough to stop the trespasser in his tracks. You see, parrots and parakeets don't exactly "talk." They communicate with their flock — whether that's other birds or human owners — by imitating sounds. It's easy to teach a young parakeet new words, but the older your pet gets, the longer it'll take her to catch on. Think back to how your bird learned the few words she knows. You probably greeted her ("Hiya!") every day, so use that same tactic now. Start by saying a simple word or phrase in a cheerful tone, over and over. Since parakeets tend to mumble, speak slowly and your pet's mimicry will come out at a normal speed. Once she's got it, move on to another expression, but continue repeating the old one for reinforcement. Remember, any racket is fair game. I've heard parakeets cry like a baby and ring like a cell phone. My best advice? Don't whistle. Instead, focus your pet's studies on what you want to hear. May I suggest: "You look great," "Nice hair," or, a sure crowd-pleaser, "Have you lost weight?"

Q: I just bought cold-hardy hens and set up a backyard coop. Is there anything extra I should do to keep it warm on especially frigid nights?

A: By selecting chickens bred to withstand low temperatures, thanks to thicker feathers and heavier builds, you've already taken the best precaution against Nebraska's harsh winters. Assuming your coop has solid walls that provide shelter from the wind—and that you replenish the birds' drinking water when it freezes—your hens should be able to survive the season by huddling together for warmth. (You can also coat their wattles and combs with petroleum jelly every other day to prevent frostbite.) Some farmers would argue against doing anything more. Their belief? Chickens accustomed to a heated coop don't acclimate to cold weather, so if the electricity goes out, you risk losing the entire flock in a single night.

But I'm a vet, not a farmer. If the hens were mine, I'd install one 250-watt infrared bulb near the waterer to ensure liquid refreshment, and another near the roost, to be flipped on in the event of a severe frost. I'd also have a small backup propane heater on hand, because power outages can indeed prove deadly. My daughter, Amy, came up with another solution should the electricity falter: Bring the gals into the laundry room until your utilities are restored. That seems a bit Green Acres to me, but it would certainly prove effective.